Craig and I

Chapter Four

"Well...that went like shit" I said while watching Craig exit the coffee shop with his kids.

"It wasn't that bad dad, it went pretty well" Amanda answered as she sipped her iced coffee.

"Not so bad? NOT SO BAD? I basically insulted him"

"How did you insult him?" she asked as she turned her head towards me.

"Maybe when I told him he couldn't be a personal trainer cuz he was clumsy in college.

"Oh yeah...well look at the bright side. At least you got his number and he basically asked you out"

"Yeah you're right. This is actually kind of exciting, but it feels weird to meet your best friend from college and meeting them seventeen years later and immediately start crushing on them" I said as I drank the rest of my iced coffee.

"Dad many teens these days crush on their best friends It's perfectly normal"

"Yeah I know... are you done with your drink? I would like to go to the mall"

"The mall? Dad we've been in this town for less than twelve hours why do you want to go to the mall?" she asks while smirking.

"I want to buy some toiletries and also It's my first day at the new job tomorrow and I don't think I have anything professional to wear"

"Okay then let's go" Amanda said while getting out of her chair.

Walking outside again was kind of an unpleasant experience. Being indoors in a chilled coffee shop and then walking outside into the hot weather really makes a difference. The mall wasn't too far away only around two blocks so walking there wouldn't take too long.

"Is the coffee kicking in?" Amanda asks

"Not really, I could really go for an ice cream tho" I answer while holding my hand above my eyes to protect them from the sun shining into my eyes.

"Yeah me too"

"God how can it be so incredibly hot, we are literally in the northern part of the US how is this possible?" I question.

"You know dad there's this thing called "global warming". Look it up if you've never heard of it"

"I was ten years old when global warming started to be a issue so yes... I do know what global warming is" I answer in a sassy kind of manner.

We arrive at the mall and it was filled with people pushing each other side to side and arguing. Seemingly every single shop was packed and stuffed with people.

"Is it black friday?" Amanda asks while she looks around every corner of the shop.

"How can it be black friday its the middle of June." I answer while looking down at Amanda's confused face.

I look around the mall trying to find a good store which isn't packed with people where I could by toiletries and a nice outfit but to no avail was I able to.

"Well...look over there, there's one shop which isn't getting much action" I point out to Amanda while holding onto her shoulder.

"Well let's go check it out then"

The shop was three stories up so I tried to start a conversation with Amanda..something I'm not good at.

"Amanda...can you explain what a mimi is" I ask as we stand next to each other on an escalator.

"A wHaT?" she says confused.

"A mimi, you know the things on twitter and instagram that you always laugh at?" I say while imitating Amanda laughing at her phone.

"Dad it's pronounced "meme" not "mimi", and I'm thankful you said "twitter" and not "THE twitter"

"Well can you explain them to me then?" I ask in a slightly high pitched voice.

"Which one?"

"All of them, all memes"

"Dad there are THOUSANDS of memes I can't just explain all of them to you now" Amanda says as we walk onto the last escalator.

"Oh well then you can teach me another day"

"Sure" Amanda says while rolling her eyes.

We step off the escalator and walk to a store with a black and red goth like frame around the entrance.

"Greetings fellow night walkers, welcome to blood or ghoul" a man dressed as a vampire says while imitating what seems like a exit before leaving a stage after you are done performing.

"Hello my name is Damien and welcome to my shop"

"Uhm hi, my name is Darcy and this is my daughter Amanda" I greet while pulling Amanda closer to me.

"Feel free to wander around my shop and If you need any help I'll be right behind the counter" he says in the most maneristic way possible.

"Okay thank you" I thank in a scared way.

I scavenge the shop for some kind of clothing that would suit my first day at my new job as a college professor but all I find are clothes with inappropriate writing on it and goth related stuff written on it. It kind of surprised me knowing the this was a vampire themed store yet almost everything is goth themed.

"Thank you so much sir but I think I've looked around enough. Have a nice day" I say in the most positive manner possible trying not to make the owner mad.

"But dad I really want this bracelet. Can i buy it with my own money?" Amanda asks while holding up and wide black leather bracelet with metal cone spikes on the side.

"TWENTY-TWO DOLLARS HELL NO!?" I scream lightly.

"I can give you a 50% off" Damien suggested.

"Really? Why? Amanda asks.

"Well all week the whole mall has had a huge sale yet no one wants to come into my shop and you are my only customers so I offer a discount"

"Wow thank you so much sir" I reply.

"Call me Damien" he says while we shake hands"

"Here Amanda I'll pay"

"Thanks dad I love you"

"Love you more"